I WISH to respond to your article by Mike Sims and the comment regarding recycling.

I do not disagree with the report, but would like to express my thanks to the TVBC recycling officer. As a former councillor and vice chair of Environmental Health, I was proud to be at the launch of the first recycling bin in Andover. Test Valley has worked very hard on recycling over the years and the present officer is excellent.

We live on a small development of 16 properties and have bulk bins as it is impossible to have individual ones. We have two brown bins for recycling and three black bins for refuse. When having a problem with the bins I called on the recycling officer. He came and attended to the bins, visited every property explaining what could go in the brown bins and left all the appropriate leaflets detailing the same, plus bags to help.

Although this has improved greatly, despite this and labels on the bins some people are still putting inappropriate items into the recycling bin which contaminates everything in the bin. If new owners/residents come I contact the recycling officer and he makes a point of visiting them.

How much more can one really do to educate people and make them responsible, in our throw-away society?

Jill Hannington, via e-mail